Ventilating building block



May 3, 1938.

J. H. WHITMARSIH 2,116,457

VENTILATING BUILDING BLOCK Filed Aug. 23, 1957 78 J H. Whitnuzrsh,

% M/4M Q% Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENTILATING BUILDING BLOCK James H. Whitmarsh, Dallas, Tex.

Application August 23,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to wall ventilators for buildings and aims generally to improve ventilators of that type as well as the construction of buildings in which it is used.

Among the principal aims and objects of the invention is the provision of a cast or like stone ventilator adapted for stone, brick or veneer buildings, which will fit into the veneer finish, providing suitable ventilation for the outside wall of a building, as for example below the floor of a cellarless building.

These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a detail vertical sectional view of a portion of a building with my improved wall ventilator in place; I

Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal sectional View thereof as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the ventilator;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified form of ventilator.

According to the invention, the building may include a foundation wall or footing ID of suitable construction, as for example, concrete block, stone or brick, of suitable thickness to support the veneering H and the interior structural members including joists |2 on which are supported the flooring I3, studs l4, carrying the usual sheathing l5 and wall finish I6. The sheathing l5 may extend down. over the ends of the joists |2 as shown, being open or cut out as at I! at certain areas to permit circulation of air from the outside between the joists.

The veneering may be of any suitable construction as for example brick, stone or rock, and includes preferably in each wall, one or more ventilator blocks l8 supported on the foundation I0 and in line with the cut out portion I! or open ended joists I2. The ventilator advantageously is of such size as to support the veneering I and preferably has a vertical area corresponding to the area of a given number of standard building bricks. Preferably the ventilator is spaced from the sheathing |5 so as to establish a circulation of air from the outside of the building into the space between the veneering H and sheathing l5 as well as between the joists.

The ventilator l8 advantageously may be formed of cast stone or other cementitious mate- 1937, Serial No. 160,528

rial and preferably comprises a cast cementitious rectangular frame I9 of substantial cross section. The interior of the frame l9, which is. open, is provided with a fine copper screen 20, preferably of Iii-mesh, backed by a reinforcing coarser 5 screen 2|, preferably of 3-mesh galvanized wire. The two contacting screens 20 and 2| are of greater dimension than the opening of the frame l9, and are cast in the frame as it is molded. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the screens extend more than half way into the body of the frame l9 and act to reinforce the cementitious frame against breakage.

The ventilators are preferably made in a variety of sizes ranging from 16 inches to 33 inches in length by 7% to 10 inches in height. The larger size of ventilators have, of course, correspondingly larger openings and preferably the upper and lower walls of the frame are reinforced against compressive forces by means of cementi- 20 tious stiles or dividers 22 cast integrally with the sides of the frames. The screens 20 and 2| may, if desired, be embedded in the stiles 22 to add rigidity to the screens.

Advantages of the invention reside in the provision of a simply constructed cast stone ventilator especially adapted to fit and be used in the construction of veneer buildings. My improved ventilator, as reinforced by the screens and stiles, is sufficiently strong to support the veneer of the building. The fine copper screen 20 permits. an adequate circulation of air into the interior of the foundation walls, will exclude any insects such as mosquitoes and the like. The fine screen,when reinforced by the heavier wire screen 2| is sufficiently strong to be protected against breakage by rodents and the like.

Other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A building construction of the class described comprising a foundation wall, floor joists supported on said wall, a flooring overlying said joists, a cementitious ventilating building block supported on said foundation Wall in the plane of said joists, a veneering of brick and the like supported on said ventilating block, and a screened ventilating opening in said block for establishing a. circulation of air from the outside of said building and between said floor joists.

2. A building construction as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the ventilating building I block is screened by contacting layers of a relatively fine copper screen and a relatively heavier coarse reinforcing screen, both of said screens 55 being embedded in the walls of said block and reinforcing the latter.

3. A building construction as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the ventilating building block is formed with a relatively large rectangular opening extending transversely through said block, said opening being screened by a. relatively fine. copper screen and a relatively heavy reinforcing screen, and cementitious stiles formed in tegrally with one side of the block and bridging the opening vertically to reinforce the longitudinal sides thereof.

JAMES H. WHI'I'MARSH. 

